Automatic control device for washing machines



June 5, 1923. 1,457,367

H. W. HUBERS AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Oct. 23 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M A TTOB/VE) June 5, 1923.

1,4523%? H. w. HUBERS AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR WASHINGYMACHINES iled Oct. 25 1920 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE-Z WQQCWTOE arm O M A 7"7'079 NEV c rack-frame 5, carrying a segment rack 6, If it is deslred to have the machine operate of Iowa, have invented certain new and useof a pitman 9, havin Patented June 5, 1923. 4 I I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR WASHING- MACHINES.

; Application filed October 28,1920. Serial no. 419,068.

To all whom it may concern: in mesh with a gearinion 7 on 'the end of Be it known that I,-I-IENRY W. I-IUBERs, a shaft -8, by which t e agitating devices in a citizen of the United States, residing at the tub are driven.- Movement 1s imparted Davenport, in the county of Scott and State to the rack 6, to oscillate the same, by means a crank connection ful Improvements in Automatic Control Dewith a wheel 10 on the shaft 3. No novelty vices for Washing Machines, of which the is claimed herein on the foregoing described following is a specification. mechanism. 4

My invention has reference to automatic .Journaled on the frame 2 is a threaded control devices for washing machines, and shaft 11, on one end of which is fixed a is specially designed for use with such maratchet-wheel 12, which is adapted to be chines which are electrically operated, or given a partial rotation by a finger 6 on in which the mechanism is under the control the rack 6 in each upward movement of such of electric devices. It maybe adapted, howrack. Spaced outwardly from the. tub 1 ever, to any power driven machines.

In machines of this class which are in of the shaft 11, across which opening is domestic use it is customary to leave the supported a rod 15, on which is ,slidably machine in operation with a load of clothes, mounted a traveler 16. Such traveler is while other house-work is being attended to, projected inwardly into a jaw 17, having a but frequently the machine is forgotten, or semi-circular opening provided with threads no track kept of the length of time in which for engagement with the threads on the it is in operation, as a result of which it runs shaft 11. Pivoted to the traveler 16 is an longer than is necessary. This occasions a arm 18, on the inner end of which is a comgreater amount of wear upon the clothes, as plementary jaw 19, also provided with -a well as upon the machine parts, and there is threaded, openln for engagement with the a corresponding increase in the amount of shaft 11. Such aws are adapted to be held is a plate 13, having an opening 14 in front the electrical current orother source of enin such engagement by means of a coiled 7 ergy made use of in operating the machine. spring 20 uniting the same. The part 16 is The chiefpurpose of my invention is to pr0- extended outwardly into a handle 21, and vide means whereby the mechanism can be the arm 18 is provided with a-correspondset to operatefor a predetermined length of ing handle 22, by meansof which the jaws time, and automatically cease to operate at 17 and 19 can be disengaged with the shaft the end of such period. 11, and moved 'to any desired position The particular construction, arrangement, thereon.

and operation of the parts of my invention Projecting upwardly from the jaw 19 is will be more fully understood from the folan arm 23, having abent end which is adapt lowing specification, reference being had to ed to contact with the arm 24 of a switch the drawings .accompanying the same, in 25, whereby the electric connection used in which o operating the machine may be broken, in-

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a washing materrupting the movement of the machine. chine with my invention embodied therein. The reverse movement of the shaft 11 is pre- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of such mavented by a spring-controlled dog 26, in enchine at-a right angle with the position gagement with the teeth of the ratchetshown in Fig. 1. l wheel 12. I

Fig. 3 is a detached view of the traveler The arrangement'of the threaded shaft 11 16 and appurtenant parts. and-devices for moving the same is such Fig, 4 1s a detail of some of the operative that the movement of the traveler 16 from parts of the invention. one end of the shaft to the other, when the 1 represents the tub portion of a washing machine is in operation, will require a preinachine, supported by a frame 2, in the botdetermined length of time, for instance, tom of which frame is rotatably supported twenty minutes, which is a little more than a drive shaft 3, to which movement is iman average amount of time for which suchparted from an electric motor or other source machines are usually run. At the end'of the of power. Inthe upper part of the frame is period the arm 23 engages the switch arm a bracket 4, on which is pivotally mounted a .24, stopping the machine, as before set forth.

for one-half of the time the traveler is set midway the ends of the shaft 11, and so on.

For convenience the plate 13 is provided, at the lower edge of t e openin 14, with a scale showing the different engths -of time for which it may be desired to have the machine in movement.

' the traveler can be positioned when it is desired to run the wringing mechanism, separately from the washing devices. The point for setting it in this position is also indicated on the scale. I What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: V

1. In a washing machine, in combination with the electrically controlled operating mechanism thereof, a threaded shaft rotatably mounted in proximity to said operating mechanism, and provided with a blank portion at one ofits ends; a traveler releasably connected with said shaft, so as to be capable of being shifted from one point to another thereon, and adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof upon said shaft being suitably rotated; a switch at the end of movement of said traveler, connected with the electrical devices controlling said operating mechanism, and adapted to be opened by said trav-- with the operating mechanism thereof, a

threaded shaft rotatably mounted in dproximity to said operating mechanism, an 1'0- vided with a blank portion at one 0 its ends; a traveler releasably connected with said shaft, so as to be ca able of being ad- 'usted len hwise thereof and adapted to e moved ongitudinally thereof upon said shaft being rotated; a switch at the end of the movement of said traveler, adapted to be actuated thereby to interrupt the movement of said operating mechanism; a scale .indicating the length of time required for said traveler to move from certain points indicated thereon to the end of its move:

nism, provided with a blank space at one of its ends; a traveler mounted so as to be capa ble of movement lengthwise of said shaft and provided with pivoted jaws adapted for engagement with said shaft, so as to be moved longitudinally thereof upon said shaft bein suitably rotated; a switch at the end of said shaft opposite to the blank space thereon, operatively associated with said operating mechanism, and adapted to be actuated by said traveler at the end of its movement, to stop. said operating mechanism; and means for commumcatmg the movement ofsaid operating mechanism to said shaft,

to give an intermittent rotation thereto.

'In testimony whereof I alfix my si HENRY W. HUB RS.

ature. 

